Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Being told I look middle class

175 replies

hasitreallybeenthatlong · 17/09/2022 21:59

On a rare date night went out for a nice meal a bit fancy but it was OH birthday treat and went to a sports bar which had good music before we got the train home. I'm quite reserved and a bit uncomfortable in big settings so being in a city Center sports bar on a Saturday night was definitely out of my comfort zone, a very bubbly woman was chatting to me at the bar while we had drinks very out there but I found her really funny and we had a giggle, mid conversation she turned and said you look like you are very middle class, I just laughed in off not really knowing what she meant, I'm curious to know what she actually meant by this, just wondering if I give off a weird vibe for her to think this as I'm guessing it's not a compliment I think I took it as I am/look stuck up which is far from the truth so I would hate to give out that vibe!

OP posts:
Cam22 · 18/09/2022 11:44

BadNomad · 17/09/2022 23:50

I hate it when that happens! Every time I pick up an avocado someone bubbly comes over to tell me how middle class I look.

I definitely would not say that ANYONE who uses bad grammar is “middle class”. And neither would other middle class people.

Cam22 · 18/09/2022 11:45

Sorry. Wrong quotation.

Cam22 · 18/09/2022 11:46

Somegirlsarebiggerthanother · 17/09/2022 23:54

DH is middle class. He says could of. I’m working class. I say could’ve. “Could of” irritates me, but after 20 years I can’t bear to tell dh

Correct one above. ^

Cam22 · 18/09/2022 11:50

erikbloodaxe · 18/09/2022 09:00

Where you wearing any Olives/Quinoa/Hummus?
Dead giveaway I'm afraid.

I know a very posh lady (landed, titles, estate been owned by family for hundreds of years) she only ever wears dog hair, home made cranberry jelly and an Alice band. Less try hard than the middle class look.

Favourite cliché. Far from the reality, actually.

Swannning · 18/09/2022 11:51

If she said you "look" middle class then surely it comes down to your appearance - what were you wearing? How is your hair styled? What handbag / shoes etc that might be obvious indicators of wealth, did you have with you?

Cam22 · 18/09/2022 11:55

Blinky21 · 18/09/2022 09:42

The vast majority of people in the UK now fall into the middle class so it's nor really an insult. I think most of the examples given in this thread are of the upper middle class

Rot. You know nothing about class divisions, I’m afraid.

Cam22 · 18/09/2022 12:00

pimlicoanna · 18/09/2022 09:56

I get told I look French. I'm not

Do describe your “French look”…

HappyRhino · 18/09/2022 12:02

I once got asked in Morrisons if I was Italian. I was buying mozzarella but am definitely not Italian. Nor do I think I look Italian.

Charlize43 · 18/09/2022 12:21

Did you say anything like: "One doesn't normally come to drink in Sports bars normally but prefers a table at the American Bar... you know... with just the girls; Cressida, Jocasta and Bea..." Then snort a few times and neigh?

SimonaRazowska · 18/09/2022 13:04

Well, can you describe what you were wearing

... skinny jeans, and a nice top ? A wrap dress? Head to toe studded leather?

We need to know

whatsup00 · 18/09/2022 13:05

It's probably simply because you were dressed for a meal out at a restaurant and everyone else was dressed for a night in a sports bar.

There are several sports bars near where I am.

erikbloodaxe · 18/09/2022 13:29

@Cam22 actually that is exactly how my friend is, She is in her 80's and has no fucks to give. She is also the kindest most selfless person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

The post was tongue in cheek just so you know.

Gwenhwyfar · 18/09/2022 13:33

"Ah ok, makes sense I thought everyone lived a good nosey at house prices!"

Are you one of those MNers who doesn't know anyone who rents?

antelopevalley · 18/09/2022 13:34

I get told I look German. I think that is because I do not do the feminine look most British women do.

Gwenhwyfar · 18/09/2022 13:34

BadNomad · 18/09/2022 00:30

Middle class isn't posh, though. Posh is posh. Upper class.

Nope. Posh is subjective, it usually means belonging to a social class higher than yourself.
I definitely consider upper middle class people posh.

Gwenhwyfar · 18/09/2022 13:35

antelopevalley · 18/09/2022 13:34

I get told I look German. I think that is because I do not do the feminine look most British women do.

Lol.
You're not blonde and blue-eyed then? (I know not all German women are)

Kanaloa · 18/09/2022 13:36

She’s probably just stupid and said a random thing. If you had a burning desire to know you really should have asked her - it’s impossible for us to know what she considers a ‘middle class’ look.

Hyacinth2 · 18/09/2022 13:38

I bet you are slimmer than the present (rounded) average.

Longdistance · 18/09/2022 13:40

I keep getting mistaken for being a doctor. The first time was at a GP surgery, there was a doctor’s conference on there. I’ve spent many years at hospitals as my dm was in and out of them with varying health issues and I’d get in a lift, or would be walking around and get mistaken for a doctor.
Peoples first impression of me, they think I look posh, but I open my mouth and could put Eliza Doolittle to shame 😳

Gwenhwyfar · 18/09/2022 13:41

Cam22 · 18/09/2022 11:55

Rot. You know nothing about class divisions, I’m afraid.

Show quote history

Blinky's right.

"The study finds that the UK’s middle class comprises 59% of the population, which is slightly smaller than the OECD average of 61%. "

blogs.bath.ac.uk/iprblog/2019/07/01/whither-the-middle-class/#:~:text=The%20study%20finds%20that%20the,the%20OECD%20average%20of%2061%25.

NCFT0922 · 18/09/2022 13:41

@Swannning wealth doesn’t indicate class.

@Charlize43 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Gwenhwyfar · 18/09/2022 13:44

Housenoob · 18/09/2022 02:08

I can't get past 'City center sports bar'... Do you mean a pub, like a Wetherspoons? I thought 'sports bars' were mainly in the US or places like Magaluf and Benidorm. I've lived in London, Cardiff and Leeds and don't think I've ever seen a 'sports bar' except maybe Walkabout, if that still exists anywhere!

There are definitely sports bars in Cardiff. It's those ones with massive TVs everywhere catering mainly to men.

antelopevalley · 18/09/2022 13:45

Gwenhwyfar · 18/09/2022 13:35

Lol.
You're not blonde and blue-eyed then? (I know not all German women are)

Show quote history

I am, but it is not that uncommon.

Gwenhwyfar · 18/09/2022 13:47

"I am, but it is not that uncommon."

OK, but it explains it and you can stop thinking it's got anything to do with your femininity :)

Kerrrmieee · 18/09/2022 13:48

Sports Bars here are the ones wall to wall TVs showing different sports all over.
Usually frequented by yer man who's just popped in after work in his work boots and shorts. Or the group of men out for a night in Fred Perry shirts and Adidas trainers.

Given me a lovely pub anyday.

I suspect OP looked a bit more dressed up than the usual and girl she got chatting to was surprised she was a laugh.

Swipe left for the next trending thread